2019 IPL auction to be held in Jaipur on December 18

The player auction ahead of the 2019 Indian Premier League will be held in Jaipur on December 18, the BCCI announced on Monday. The auction will be a one-day affair and there is also a change in venue with the event moving to the Pink City from Bengaluru.

Only 70 players, including 50 Indians and 20 overseas players will be up grabs with eight teams left with a total purse of Rs 145.25 crore. Ahead of the auction, teams announced their retentions last month, while releasing a few big names.

Yuvraj Singh was released by KXIP while Delhi Daredevils let go of Gautam Gambhir. Rajasthan Royals released Jaydev Unadkat after paying a whopping Rs 11.5 crore for his services at the auction held ahead of the 2018 edition.

Sunrisers Hyderabad dumped injured Wriddhiman Saha along with West Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite. Mumbai Indians released some top international stars like JP Duminy and fast bowling duo of Pat Cummins and Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh.

As per reports, the 2019 edition may be held outside India, partially or completely, if it clashes with the general elections.

READ: IPL 2019 Expected To Be Held Early To Keep Indians Fresh For World Cup 2019

On November 8, Indian skipper Virat Kohli urged that the World Cup-bound fast bowlers to be rested from 2019 IPL, but the idea mooted at a meeting with the Committee of Administrators (CoA) can be unlikely to favour with the franchises.

During a recent meeting of the CoA in Hyderabad, Kohli suggested resting pacers, especially Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, from the entire IPL to keep them fresh for the World Cup. However, the India captain didn't find too many backers for his proposal as Board officials said franchises are unlikely to agree.

"The IPL is starting on March 29 and will finish on May 19. In any case, there will be a 15-day gap before India play their first World Cup game against South Africa on June 5. So there is no chance that pacers can be rested for the entire duration of the IPL," a senior official, who was present in the meeting, told PTI on Thursday.

READ: IPL Franchises Unlikely To Support Virat Kohli's Appeal To Rest Bowlers For 2019 ICC World Cup